Hebron's Oei Wins Miss Connecticut Crown

Bridget Oei, a 22-year-old Hebron native and 2018 graduate of the
University of Connecticut
won the title of Miss Connecticut at the 90th anniversary of the pageant, held at the Palace Theater in Waterbury on June 9.

"I'm just shocked," Oei said, just after her crowning, who added that it's a special honor to be the 90th woman to hold that title. "You prepare, but you never think that this is something that's in the cards for you. I've been competing for years, and its such an honor to come after this legacy of incredible women."

Competing as Miss Mountain Laurel this year, Oei previously held the local titles of Miss
Southington
2017 and Miss Greater Rockville 2016. Her platform is Women in STEM: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators. Oei, a competitive Irish Step dancer, who has placed as high as fifth in worldwide competitions, also won preliminary awards for talent and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit on June 8.

"Whenever I Irish dance, I just get so happy," Oei said. "There is no way for me to control it or taper it. Both times I did it [in prelims and finals], I just felt so happy."

She also added a brief moonwalk to her routine.

"You have to add a touch of Michael
Jackson
here and there," she said.

The accomplished-yet-humble Oei was quick to highlight the 24 other competitors. Five other competitors have also placed in the top five previously.

"These girls mean the world to me," she said. "They are 24 women from across Connecticut who have sacrificed and poured so much into it."

The future orthopedic surgeon said she is taking a year off before medical school to focus on the community service that comes with the job of Miss Connecticut.

"I want to meet as many young kids as I can, and inspire them to look at STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] careers," she said.

Oei will also compete in the first Miss America competition under the new "Miss America 2.0" format, which will forego the swimsuit competition and institute several other changes when it takes place this September.

"I'm going to be the guinea pig," she said. "I couldn't be more honored to take on that role and run with it. I'm excited. I think it's going to be challenging, exciting, and very rewarding."

Oei was homeschooled in Hebron, and had a simple message for her town.

"Just thank you," she said. "My parents gave me the foundation and the education, and the commitment to scholarship and success, which are so crucial to Miss Connecticut."

Morgan Mancini, a 16-year-old student at Wolcott High School who competed as Miss Farmingbury's Outstanding Teen, won the title of Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen at the same pageant.

Mancini said friends who have previously held the title of Miss Wolcott's Outstanding Teen encouraged her to compete. She has been a competitive tap dancer since she was three years old.

"Right now, it feels so unreal," Mancini said. "I actually didn't hear the name that was called, but everyone started looking at me, so I thought, 'Maybe it was me.' So, that was incredible."

Mancini will represent Connecticut at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen competition in Orlando in late July. Her platform, Completing the Puzzle: Autism Awareness and Acceptance, is based on her experiences with her sister, Jillian, who is on the autism spectrum.

She has already spoken to more than 1,400 people about autism, and hopes to add significantly to that number, both in and out of Connecticut.

Also placing at the pageant was Miss Tolland County Gina Salvatore, of Wethersfield, who was third runner-up and earned the overall interview award. Miss Greater Rockville Jojo Shields was named the 12th semifinalist, which was a last-minute surprise, as the competition had stated it would name a top 11, including a People's Choice winner.